Anthony Kay bent but didn’t break, grinding through 5 2/3 scoreless to lead the Sox past Kansas City. | (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Pitching ruled the night, and the bats did just enough to drag the White Sox across the finish line, 2-0. Raise a glass: the South Siders finally snap that 14-game Kansas City curse.
This evening’s contest was influenced a little by the ABS, with a few calls overturned on both sides. It added a bit of rhythm disruption to an otherwise crisp, low-scoring, slow-moving game. A key moment was Edgar Quero winning a challenge strike three call in the bottom of the first after a very lengthy at-bat from Vinnie Pasquantino.
Chicago finally broke the stalemate in the fourth after a quiet start by both sides. Munetaka Murakami coaxed one of two walks on the night and then hustled home on a 106.6 mph rocket RBI double from Colson Montgomery, putting the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Good Guys tacked on another tally in the seventh, capitalizing on a little chaos. Who doesn’t love a little on-field turmoil? Two free passes, a throwing error by Vinnie Pasquantino, and a sacrifice fly from Luisangel Acuña made it 2-0. It felt delightful to take advantage of the other team’s mistakes for once.
On the mound, the South Side staff was good enough, but did have to work around quite a bit of traffic. Veteran Anthony Kay set the tone with a strong start, getting key swings and misses for 5 2/3 scoreless frames. The bullpen didn’t light itself on fire and kept the Royals off the board. Grant Taylor tossed 1 1/3, and Jordan Leasure managed a drama-free inning with just one walk in the eighth. Seranthony Domínguez came out and slammed the door in the ninth.
KC had more than a few chances with baserunners everywhere. Bobby Witt Jr. provided most of the spark and did his best to play spoiler with a double, steal, and single, but thankfully for the White Sox, the Royals just weren’t able to cash it in. With the victory, Chicago snaps their three-game losing streak and improves their record to 5-8. The club will be back at it tomorrow at 6:40 p.m. CST with Davis Martin on the bump.
Detroit Red Wings team captain Dylan Larkin, who is battling through injury, came through for his team in a major way on Thursday evening.
Larkin netted the third hat trick of his NHL career, helping the Red Wings earn two badly-needed points in the standings with a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Little Caesars Arena.
In doing so, Larkin has now established a new career-high in goals with 34, besting his previous top output of 33 goals in 2023-24.
With the win, the Red Wings remain mathematically alive in the tightly packed race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with just three regular-season games remaining; they're still three points behind the Ottawa Senators, who defeated the Florida Panthers, for the second and final Wild Card spot.
The Red Wings opened the scoring early in the first period on the power-play thanks to the 40th tally of the season from Alex DeBrincat; he became the first Red Wings player since Marian Hossa in 2008-09 to register 40 goals.
However, the Flyers tied it later in the frame after Christian Dvorak deflected a shot from former Michigan State Spartans forward Porter Martone.
Detroit's offense caught fire in the second period, fueled by goals from defenseman Moritz Seider and the first of Larkin's eventual three.
Just 18 seconds after Seider's goal, Larkin beat Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar blocker-side from in tight on the power play, then later slipped the puck five-hole on a partial breakaway just moments after exiting the penalty box.
Larkin completed the hat trick on a two-on-one rush, taking a pass from Seider and beating goaltender Samuel Ersson (who had replaced Vladar) with a top-corner snipe. It took several minutes for the ice crew to clear the hats that rained down from the fired-up crowd.
Detroit also got a third-period goal from Patrick Kane, who converted off a beautiful cross-ice feed from Simon Edvinsson.
Former Red Wings forward Luke Glendening scored his second goal of the season late in regulation, making the score look slightly better for Philadelphia.
Both teams utilized both of their goaltenders. John Gibson was shaken up in the second period after Owen Tippett collided with him; he departed after making 13 saves. In relief, Cam Talbot stopped 11 of 12 shots.
Meanwhile, Vladar was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots; Ersson stopped 12 of 14 shots.
Up next for the Red Wings is the New Jersey Devils on Saturday evening at home in another must-win contest.
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Apr 9, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Jac Caglianone (14) reacts after striking out in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
You can’t win if you don’t score.
For the second time this season, the Royals failed to score a run in a game. A 2-0 loss to the White Sox drops Kansas City to 5-8.
It’s the Royals’ third straight loss, and in that time, the offense has averaged a single run per game.
Tonight, the Royals faced lefty Anthony Kay, who came it having not yet reached five innings in an outing sporting a FIP near seven while not winning a Major League game since 2021.
He looked dominant tonight. Against left-handed batters, he retired all seven he faced with six strikeouts. He pitched 5-and-2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and two walks. His offense didn’t give him much against Seth Lugo, but tonight, Kay didn’t need much help.
Lugo continued his strong season with 6-and-1/3 innings while allowing two runs (only one earned) while striking out four. He allowed four hits and walked four.
He also benefited from some stellar defense from Maikel Garcia:
The White Sox scored their first run in the top of the fourth when Colson Montgomery doubled home Munetaka Murakami. Lane Thomas took a very curious route to the ball, not only failing to catch it but also allowing it to get by him and reach the wall.
Colson Montgomery sends one to the gap as Munetaka Murakami races home from first to give the @WhiteSox the lead! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/NWEaIwS4Ss
The scored remained 1-0 until the seventh when Luisangel Acuna hit a sacrifice fly to right off John Schreiber, allowing Andrew Benintendi to come home.
Royals batters only managed five hits for the night, the best of them a 113-MPH line drive off the left field wall by Bobby Witt Jr. for a double. Another foot or so higher and it would’ve been a home run. Aside from that, the Royals managed four other hits—another by Bob, two by Garcia, and one by Thomas. They also managed four walks, including one to start the ninth.
In the end, the Royals stranded 11 baserunners while going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Mother Nature pending, they’ll get another crack at the White Sox tomorrow night as they look to snap their three-game skid and even up the series.
Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Fans react after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) becomes the NBA's second highest scorer of points in a game against the Wshington Wizards at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
The Wizards are hosting the Miami Heat in game 81 of the season Friday night. Here’s the preview:
Game info
When: 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Apr. 10
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
ESPN has not published either team’s injury report. It is safe to assume that a lot of players will be sitting out, though.
Game notes and more
The Wizards threw away the 2026 NBA season back in 2023, so it is no surprise that they have clinched another sub-20 win record. Let’s see what they get up to this offseason — it’s time to start competing, so perhaps they will decide to chase some veterans to shore up the rotation like the Detroit Pistons did a couple of seasons ago. Remember — the Pistons lost a record 28 consecutive games in 2023-24 and then played in a competitive first-round series the following year.
The Miami Heat are already locked into the 8, 9, or 10 seed. At this point, the play-in tournament should just be called the Miami Heat Invitational.
Remember when Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points on the Wizards a couple of weeks ago? That felt like a fever dream.
NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers snapped a three-game skid with a 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14. Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson finished with 12 points apiece.
E.J. Liddell led the Nets (20-59) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Saraf scored 19 points and Tyson Etienne added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 37 for 96 (37%) from the field and had its two-game winning streak halted.
The Pacers raced to a 31-14 lead in the first quarter, led 63-37 at half and carried a 26-point (98-72) advantage into the fourth quarter.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 9: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the game, Miami Heat Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra hinted at a better game between desperate teams after a “disappointing” matchup on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for Erik, none of his players got the memo.
Toronto routed Miami for the second game in a row, winning 128-114. The Raptors were led by Brandon Ingram, who finished with a season-high 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. RJ Barrett added 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Collin Murray-Boyles was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block off the bench. For Miami, Bam Adebayo improved on his no-show on Tuesday with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The outcome was never really in doubt as the Raptors played according to plan. “I thought that taking care of the ball was a big, big part of our game plan”, said Darko Rajakovic after the game. Toronto finished the game with only four turnovers (three if you remove garbage time).
Following a 26-point beatdown just two nights prior, the Heat sent an early message that Miami would not be laying another goose egg. The game was barely 95 seconds old when Darko Rajakovic called the first timeout as the Heat raced out to a quick 7-0 lead.
Fun moment: Herro shot waved off. Before fans could finish cheering, as if on queue, Herro took the inbound pass and scored in the exact same fashion.
With the Heat up 16-8 and Barnes out of the game with two quick fouls, Toronto ramped up the defensive intensity and went on a 15-4 run, fueled by 8 points from the Raptors’ other All-Star, Brandon Ingram.
Ingram ended the first quarter leading all scorers with 10 points. He also almost ended Kel’el Ware.
Toronto led Miami 32-26 after the first quarter. Among the many bright spots, RJ Barrett scoring 9 points in aggressive fashion, the Raptors over coming the slow start and, fairly noteworthy considering their struggles earlier in the season, scoring with ease when the Heat tried defending with a zone.
Active hands from Collin Murray-Boyles. After a missed corner three from Ja’Kobe Walter, Miami corralled the rebound but CMB deflected the outlet pass and came down with the steal. He quickly dished to Walter, who took advantage of the second chance and nailed the three.
Similar to Tuesday’s matchup, the Raptors turned up the aggression in the second quarter. Consistent drives to the basket led to kickouts for three or Miami fouls. Toronto was in the bonus over 4 minutes into the quarter. Miami’s biggest culprit was Vaughan native, Andrew Wiggins, who picked up his third foul just seconds into the frame.
Despite being in control for most of the first half, the Raptors couldn’t quite run away from the Heat — desperate to not replicate Tuesday’s disappointing effort. Led by Tyler Herro’s and Davion Mitchell’s effective drives, the Heat chipped away at the lead. With Bam Adebayo anchoring himself in the paint and thwarting drives to the basket, Miami whittled the lead down to 45-44.
Just like the first quarter, it was Ingram who spearheaded another Toronto run. He scored 5 points and assisted on a Jamal Shead three to push the lead back to nine. By the time Erik Spoelstra called his next timeout, the Raptors had already pushed the lead back up to 58-46.
Toronto didn’t stop there. Credit the team’s defensive pressure or Miami losing focus or Ingram seemingly on a mission to drop 50, but the Raptors pushed the lead to 69-50 at halftime. Ingram finished the half with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Murray-Boyles was a game-high +20 off the bench with 10 points — on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting — 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Raptors carried its largest lead into halftime, despite having zero points on zero attempts in transition — normally a driving force behind a blowout.
Hopefully the vibes carry over to the Blue Jays?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr is here and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 9, 2026
Miami came out of halftime with desperate energy. Hell-bent on getting back into the game quickly, it only took four minutes for the Heat to equal its first half output from beyond the arc, nailing 3 triples and narrowing the lead down to 79-64.
The Heat’s comeback continued with 5 more triples. Combined with several one-and-done possessions for the Raptors, Miami turned what was a 26-point deficit to 6, as Toronto clung to an 89-83 lead.
For the third consecutive quarter, Ingram scored in double-figures. While almost half of his first half points came from the charity stripe, all of Ingram’s scoring in the quarter came from the field — with a higher degree of difficulty as the Heat focused more of it defensive pressure on the All-Star.
Toronto ended the third quarter with a 102-90 lead. Miami stayed in the game with some hot shooting, draining 9 of 12 three-point attempts.
With Miami’s offense reignited and the Raptors lead in a precarious position, Barnes produced a mini 5-0 run to start the final frame, causing Spoelstra to call a timeout. The Heat could not replicate its success from three, missing each of its first 4 attempts. Toronto capitalized on the offensive end, growing the lead to 114-92, forcing another Miami timeout.
The Heat, who have now lost 10 of its last 13 games and can finish no higher than 9th, are crawling towards the play-in tournament. If the last two performances are any indication, Miami’s season should be over in a couple of days and will be defined by one magical night when Bam Adebayo scored 83 points.
The Raptors finish the road portion of its regular season schedule with the last back-to-back of the season in New York on Friday. With only two games remaining, there are still huge implications for the Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks can still finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the East standings, while the Raptors can finish anywhere from 5th to 8th. Toronto also swept the season series against Atlanta, and own the season series against Charlotte and Orlando.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on April 09, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everything is bad again.
Hours after learning Joel Embiid would be out with appendicitis, the Sixers fell to the Houston Rockets Thursday night 113-102 at Toyota Center. They cut a 28-point lead down to five, but didn’t have enough to complete the comeback.
The Sixers are now 43-37 and fading fast in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with the Toronto Raptors crushing the Miami Heat.
Tyrese Maxey bounced back a bit, going for 24 points on 9-of-20 from the field. VJ Edgecombe didn’t have the most efficient night, but was one of the big catalysts of the fourth-quarter comeback attempt with a strong overall game. He had 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Quentin Grimes also had a big night, going for 20 points.
Kevin Durant was exceptional with a game-high 29.
The team announced earlier in the day that Embiid would get surgery in Houston. During the game, it was announced that Embiid underwent a successful appendectomy. Given the recovery time it will take, it’s possible we won’t see the big fella on the court again this season. Just a brutal break for the former MVP and his teammates.
Here are some observations from the loss.
First Quarter
On the first possession of the game, Paul George forced a turnover on Alperen Sengun which turned into an Oubre dunk in transition. George then had a nice drive and finish on Amen Thompson. Not much has gone right for the Sixers this season, but PG has looked like PG over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, George also picked up his second foul late in the quarter.
You figured the Sixers needed an excellent Maxey performance to hang around in this one. Early on, his recent struggles continued. He missed his first three shots — including a step-back three that was way off — and committed another turnover on a drive. He went scoreless.
Adem Bona did a solid job on his Turkish national team teammate Sengun. Sengun was still getting his, but Bona was making him work on both ends.
Oubre was the main source of offense early with 12 points, including two threes. Oubre is on pace to have the best three-point shooting season of his career. The Sixers’ problems were mostly on the other end of the court, but turnovers helped the Rockets’ cause. The Sixers let Houston get out on the break and couldn’t slow down the Rockets’ offense for most of the first quarter. Houston was up 35-26 after one.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is the first on the floor to double digits here with 10 points in Q1 so far, shooting 4-4 FG, 2-2 3PT pic.twitter.com/5jk8Zl0I3E
Nick Nurse opened the second quarter with Dominick Barlow at the five. Andre Drummond didn’t have the greatest run against Sengun in his first-quarter stint.
Well, it wouldn’t be two straight games with scoreless first halves for Maxey, at least! He had a slick, lightning-quick drive for his first bucket. Unfortunately, he turned the ball over a couple possessions later. It looked like Maxey just lost the ball on a drive. You have to wonder how much that pinky is affecting him.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before — defensive rebounding was an issue for the Sixers. After Sengun drew a foul on Bona crashing the offensive glass, the 6-foot-0 Aaron Holiday snagged an offensive rebound and put it back. Whether Embiid plays or not, this is an evergreen issue for the Sixers.
The best way to describe Durant against the Sixers’ defenders is like when a tall person puts their hand on a shorter person’s head and the shorter person swings wildly. They just had no chance. KD put up 17 points in the first half.
Maxey closed the period strong, dropping 15 in the second, including three threes, but the main story of the first half was turnovers. The Sixers committed 11 leading to 20 Rockets points. That was basically the difference in the game as Houston took a 73-56 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
It felt like the Sixers were just mentally checked out. Josh Okogie destroyed them on the glass, they continued to turn the ball over and the Rockets’ half-court offense carved them up. The lead was up to 85-61 midway through the quarter.
It’s hard to even write about what I’m watching. This feels like a slow-motion trainwreck. If you’re an optimist, you could point to Maxey getting going as a positive. He turned in two straight rough performances, including what was arguably one of the worst games of his career in San Antonio. He at least got into rhythm against some pretty tough defenders Thursday.
Another small positive is Barlow playing Durant very tough on a couple possessions. You aren’t going to lock up one of the greatest scorers of all time, but Barlow made the future Hall of Famer work, using his length to bother Durant as much as he could.
It was an ugly third quarter overall. The Rockets took the period 23-17. They led 96-73 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Sixers did cut the lead below 20 thanks to Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe. The combination of Edgecombe’s talent with the dog he has in him is fun. The guy plays hard every night and he tracks down loose balls as well as any player I’ve seen.
A 20-2 run got the Rockets’ lead down to seven. Most of it was fueled by the Sixers’ defense. All three of Edgecombe, Grimes and Barlow were flying around. Credit where it’s due: Drummond shook off his rough start to put together a solid performance. He was the big on the floor for the run and had 15 rebounds and five assists. Though he only recorded one steal, his quick hands did lead to a bunch of Houston turnovers.
A Durant three out of a timeout pushed the lead back to double-digits. Then KD found Aaron Holiday for an open corner three. One guy who wasn’t on the court for the Sixers’ run was Maxey. Nurse got him back in after those threes and he quickly found his way to the basket for an and-one. George was another guy not on the court. It seemed like Nurse was saving the veteran forward for the second half of the back-to-back tomorrow in Indiana.
A pair of huge Edgecombe buckets cut the deficit all the way down to five, but then, somehow, Durant got wide open for a three. That triple put the Rockets up 110-102 with 1:15. It was a valiant comeback effort, but the Sixers came up short.
For six-plus innings Thursday night, Nolan McLean dazzled at Citi Field. He allowed just a pair of hits and his stuff was especially filthy, as Arizona hitters were largely overmatched.
But lefty Eduardo Rodríguez was nearly as good for the Diamondbacks, and when McLean faltered in the seventh inning, Luke Weaver came in and got knocked around, as the Mets lost their second straight, 7-1.
McLean’s performance was about the only thing that went right for the Mets on another chilly night in Queens.
The right-hander faced just two batters over the minimum heading into the seventh before a leadoff walk to Geraldo Perdomo to start the inning. After a strikeout of Adrian Del Castillo, McLean’s eighth of the night, he gave up a single to Jose Fernandez and was yanked after a career-high 100 pitches.
And that’s when the game was lost, with the bullpen and defense falling apart late.
A dejected Luke Weaver heads back to the dugout during the seventh inning of the Mets’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Weaver entered having allowed just three base runners in five innings over five appearances, but he gave up a game-tying double to right to pinch-hitter Gabriel Moreno that Brett Baty couldn’t catch up to. Baty, still new to right field, pulled up short of the fence in right and the ball hit off the fence.
“I felt I got a good read on it and tried to get back there [quickly] to find the wall,’’ said Baty, who added it was the first time he’s had a play like that. “I’m still working hard to get some experience with wall balls. … I think they’re extremely hard, but I’m gonna do everything I can to catch those. I’ll run through the wall if I have to.”
Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. But in this one, the inability to come up with a catch led to a loss, as Alek Thomas then grounded to first with the infield in and Mark Vientos made a poor throw home, which allowed Fernandez to score to give Arizona the lead.
Luke Weaver (back left) looks on as Alek Thomas dives safely into home on a tripe by Jorge Barrosa during the seventh inning of the Mets’ loss to Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for New York Post
A Tim Tawa sacrifice fly added another run, and Jorge Barrosa continued the rally with a triple to right to make it 4-1.
Weaver left to a chorus of boos following the four-run outburst.
Luis García was even worse, as the right-hander gave up three runs in the eighth, with the Diamondbacks putting the game away.
The lineup didn’t give the pitchers any margin for error, mostly silent outside of one swing from Luis Robert Jr. in the bottom of the first. His two-out solo homer was the first earned run scored off Rodríguez this year — and the last the Mets would score on the night.
Nolan McLean, who allowed just two runs in his start, celebrates after getting out of the sixth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Diamondbacks. Robert Sabo for New York Post
They threatened with two outs in the third when Bo Bichette singled and Robert walked. Vientos followed with a liner up the middle, but second baseman Ketel Marte was shaded that way and made the catch.
Another potential rally arose in the fifth. Tyrone Taylor opened with a double to left and moved to third on Francisco Lindor’s grounder to shortstop. After Bichette walked, Rodríguez got Robert looking and Vientos grounded out to third to keep it a one-run game.
Still, the Mets held the lead to open the seventh and had their high-leverage relievers ready to go. But Weaver and García combined to give up five runs while getting just three outs.
Luis Robert Jr. celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of the Mets’ blowout loss to the Diamondbacks. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Weaver said his tough outing was more painful considering how well McLean pitched.
“It adds a little more sting,’’ Weaver said. “He deserved the win there.”
The Celtics dared Josh Hart to beat them. He obliged.
After a miserable first half, Hart caught fire down the stretch of Thursday’s 112-106 victory over the Celtics — burying his open and contested looks to the delight of an enthusiastic MSG crowd.
“Their game plan was to let him shoot,” coach Mike Brown said, “and he stepped up and he knocked down big shots.”
Josh Hart puts up a 3-point shot as Jayson Tatum jumps to defend during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 112-106 win over the Celtics on April 9, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, burying all three of his trey attempts while suppressing Jayson Tatum on the other end with pressure defense. He was the unlikely hero following his dud of a first half, with Hart going into the break with more turnovers than points.
The final five minutes was a much different story, pushing the third-seeded Knicks to within two games of Boston for second in the East — and one game above the No. 4 Cavs. For the Knicks, a first-round series against either Toronto or Atlanta is now the most likely scenario.
“The Hart-breaker comes through,” Karl-Anthony Towns said.
Asked if he was surprised defenses are still leaving him open despite shooting over 40 percent on 3s this season, Hart replied, “It all depends. For me, I always talk about how I’m the fifth option, sixth option. My thought process always is, how can I get these guys easy shots, get these guys involved, get them feeling good? Am I surprised with that? Nah, because I don’t go out there, like, you know what, I’m going to shoot seven, eight 3s. That’s not really my cup of tea. But when I’m open, I know I’ve got to shoot those shots. But they’re probably looking like he might shoot three or four, so let him have that.”
Whatever the reason for Boston’s strategy, it backfired. The Celtics also had no answer for the Towns-Jalen Brunson two-man game, which has emerged this week as a powerful force.
Just like three nights earlier in a victory over the Hawks, the Knicks worked Towns and Brunson in halfcourt sets. Pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, preferable switches.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket as Sam Hauser defends during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It turned into an unstoppable strategy as the Knicks (52-28) moved one step closer to clinching third in the East while keeping alive their hopes of supplanting Boston at No. 2.
“We’re running it a little bit more than what we were doing before,” Brown said of the Towns-Brunson pick-and-roll. “And guys are getting a rhythm. Guys are getting a rhythm at the right time.”
Brunson picked up five of his 10 assists in the fourth quarter, finishing with 25 points. Towns had 16 points and 12 rebounds. So while Hart got the biggest bouquet Thursday, Towns and Brunson were the catalysts.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after a foul was called on OG Anunoby during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Getty Images
“I just think [myself and Brunson] had convos in the last few days and those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those situations and it’s been very good for our team.”
The Celtics (54-26) were playing without their top star, Jaylen Brown, who sat with Achilles tendinitis. His DNP felt hypocritical after Brown spent months needling the Knicks and their fans, including a comment just this week about seeking revenge for last year’s elimination.
Of course, revenge for the Celtics can only be accomplished in the playoffs, and Brown’s absence theoretically provided an easier avenue to face the Knicks in the second round.
But there were other reasons for Brown to rest. First, the Achilles soreness has been an ongoing issue for him this season. Also, Thursday’s game was the first in a back-to-back set and the Celtics have previously alternated rest days for Brown and Tatum. So don’t be surprised if Tatum sits Friday’s game against the Pelicans.
And lastly, Tatum characterized Thursday’s game as an emotional hurdle to clear after tearing his Achilles on the Garden court almost a year ago. It was his first time returning to the spot of the injury. He apparently needed MSG redemption more than Brown.
“Obviously, at some point I knew I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again,” Tatum said. “So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday.”
If Tatum cleared a mental hurdle, it didn’t help with his shot. He was off and particularly struggled down the stretch while guarded by Hart, finishing with 24 points on 7-of-22 shooting. The Celtics were outscored by 16 points in his 40 minutes. But the Knicks were killed by Payton Pritchard, who went off for 23 points with six assists on 10-of-20 shooting. When the Knicks threatened to pull away in the third quarter with a 13-point lead, Pritchard dragged the Celtics back.
It led to a nip-and-tuck fourth quarter, with the deficit never hitting double digits for the final 18 minutes. In the end, the Towns-Brunson tandem — along with efficient shooting from Hart — carried the result.
MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield became the first Montreal player to score 50 goals in a season in more than three decades and Juraj Slafkovsky scored a tiebreaker with just over a minute remaining as the Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in a fight-filled game Thursday night.
Slafkovsky scored his 30th at 18:56 of the third period and Nick Suzuki had two assists to raise his season total to 70 for Montreal (47-22-10). Jakub Dobes made 17 saves for his seventh consecutive win.
Darren Raddysh scored for Tampa Bay (48-25-6), which lost its third straight game. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 19 shots.
Caufield beat Vasilevskiy with a wrist shot at 6:29 of the second period for the milestone goal in front of a frenzied crowd at the Bell Centre that included Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Caufield became the seventh Canadiens player to hit the 50-goal mark, and the first since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90.
Raddysh tied the game with 1:51 remaining in the third period with the goalie pulled before Slafkovsky scored with 64 seconds left on a pass from Suzuki.
The Canadiens, Lightning and Buffalo Sabres are locked in a three-way race for first place in the Atlantic Division with three regular-season games remaining for Montreal and Tampa Bay, and two left for Buffalo. Montreal moved two points ahead of Tampa Bay and two behind Buffalo for the division lead.
The game featured several scrums after the whistle, a spirited fight between Montreal’s Josh Anderson and Tampa Bay’s Declan Carlile, and seven 10-minute misconducts — culminating in 126 penalty minutes. The second period alone had more than 100, with players packing in to both penalty boxes.
Up next
Lightning: At the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.
Canadiens: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks laugh after the game against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If the games will be anything like tonight’s affair, a Knicks-Celtics playoff series would be a gift from the basketball gods, no?
Tonight, the Boston Celtics (54-26) came into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks (52*-28). While Boston has essentially locked up the No. 2 seed, the Knicks are fighting to hold off the Cavaliers for the third spot. However, this marked Jayson Tatum’s big return to Madison Square Garden after rupturing an Achilles tendon here last postseason, and even without the injured Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were determined to win this one for the Tater. The Knicks had other ideas.
Behind a nuclear performance from Josh Hart down the stretch—he went 5-of-7 from three, with three of those bombs coming in the fourth quarter—New York sent Boston back to Beantown with a bruised bottom. Final score: Knicks 112, Celtics 106.
The Knicks funneled their offense through Mikal Bridges (10 PTS, 6 ASTS, +17) to start the game, and he hit three straight buckets to give them a 7-0 lead. From there, Tatum (24 PTS, 14 RBS, 8 ASTS) quickly steadied things for the visitors, scoring, rebounding, and evened the scoreboard. Boston’s edge came from second chances and depth. Neemias Queta (10 PTS, 10 RBS) crashed the glass, and Payton Pritchard (23 PTS) chipped in off the bench to help swing momentum in the wrong direction.
Even with similar shooting splits (48% vs. 44%), the Celts doubled the Knicks in paint points (14–6) and earned extra possessions with a 4–1 edge in offensive boards. The Knicks actually shot better from beyond the arc (40% vs. 25%), but they failed to create enough interior pressure or ball movement. Jalen Brunson (25 PTS, 10 AST, 1 TOV) kept the Knicks close with a three-pointer and free throws, scoring 10 points in the quarter to narrow the score at the break, 29-26.
The second quarter began with a scrappy, uneven stretch, marked by misses, blocks, and squandered possessions on both sides, before our heroes found their rhythm. OG Anunoby (13 PTS) knocked down a three, while Mitchell Robinson (7 PTS, 7 RBS, 3 STL, 1 BLK) brought much-needed interior intensity and finished an alley-oop to push the hosts ahead. Off the bench, Miles McBride provided some lift with a timely three, a steal, and two dimes.
Pritchard continued to be a pest on both ends, while Queta built on his rebound total. When Brunson returned mid-quarter, he worked with Karl-Anthony Towns (16 PTS, 12 RBS) in the pick-and-roll to spark a rally and pull the game even. At halftime, New York held the thinnest of leads, 54-53.
Through the first 24, the Knicks were the cleaner, more efficient team. They shot 48% overall and 33% from three (versus 39% and 24%). Boston stayed close through volume, using eight offensive rebounds, a +8 edge on the glass, and near-perfect free-throw shooting. New York moved the ball better (14–9 in assists) and turned around their paint scoring in the second quarter. At the break, Captain Brunson led all scorers with 16, while Payton Pritchard had 15 on 7-of-12 shooting.
Josh Hart (26 PTS, 10-15 FG) nailed two triples, Bridges and Anunoby canned some of their own, and the Knicks extended their lead to 11 early in the third period. Towns was more active on the glass and added second-chance points, helping New York build what looked like a stable cushion. But Boston is too good to be counted out so early. Tatum kept the Beantown Bums on New York’s heels with a mix of midrange scoring, a triple, and steady rebounding. Then, gradually, Pritchard took over the quarter. The Human Milk Dud swished multiple threes, finished inside, and set up others, while Baylor Scheierman (20 PTS) and Nikola Vučević (10 PTS, 5 RBS) added timely threes to erase the deficit and regain the lead. By the end of the quarter, Boston had snuck ahead by two, 83-81.
We’re finally at the point where we don’t got shit our pants every time Mitchell Robinson hits the floor.
The guests came out swinging in the fourth, with buckets from Scheierman and Tatum. The hosts stayed close behind Jordan Clarkson’s (8 PTS) brief scoring burst, but missed looks from Miles McBride and Landry Shamet stalled their offense. The energy finally shifted when the starters returned, Josh Hart immediately hit a three-pointer, and the Knicks took off on a run that flipped the lead.
The game saw-sawed from there. Pritchard and Scheierman kept knocking down buckets, but Brunson was cool and collected in the driver’s seat, scoring on a step-back three, getting to the line, and setting up Hart for a key layup. A reinvigorated Towns added a three, a dunk, and a steal, while Tatum faltered late with turnovers and a missed layup. The All-Star would finish with six turnovers and a team-worst -16 plus-minus.
Amazon flashed a graphic showing the Boston Celtics at 15–16 in clutch games and the New York Knicks at 20–13. The way these teams ripped at each other, it felt like the decision could go either way. Down the stretch, though, it was a different roommate, Mr. Josh Hart, stepping into the Captain Clutch role. He scored 15 points in the fourth, including eight in the final two minutes and a pair of dagger threes that sealed a 3–1 season series win for the good guys.
JOSH HART COMES UP BIG IN THE CLUTCH!
Extends the lead to 5 with 42.4 to go. Seals the deal at 14.6.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 26: Jarrett Allen #31 (C) celebrates with Jaylon Tyson #20 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during player introductions before the game against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on January 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are balancing getting reps together before the playoffs and trying to go into the postseason completely healthy. On Wednesday, that meant playing all available players in a game that doesn’t have too much significance for the Cavs in the standings. On Friday, that means resting several key players in their rematch with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Cavs will be without the services of Donovan Mitchell (right ankle injury management), Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management), and Sam Merrill (left hamstring injury management). This is in addition to Thomas Bryant missing the game with a left calf strain.
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Cleveland didn’t go with a vanilla game plan in their win on Wednesday. There’s reason to believe they’ll go for it again, just with fewer key contributors available.
No one is 100% at this time of the season, but it is fair to point out that Allen and Merrill have been playing through injuries recently.
Allen hasn’t looked like himself since returning to the lineup from a knee injury that kept him out for a few weeks. He mentioned after his return to the lineup from that injury that he was playing through some pain. Given how important he is to the Cavs’ playoff ceiling, it would make sense to rest him until the playoffs begin next weekend.
Merrill has also been fighting through various injuries throughout the season. The hamstring injury is just the one listed on the injury report right now.
Whether or not Mitchell is as injured as the other two is unknown. He twisted his ankle on Sunday in the win over the Indiana Pacers, but has since denied that he was injured in any way. Resting a star player for a game like this makes sense. I’m not sure it’s worth reading into too much.
The Cavs do have some good news on the injury front. Jaylon Tyson has been upgraded to questionable. He could make his return to the lineup on Friday. On Wednesday, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that the reason he wasn’t playing then was more related to conditioning than any concerns about the toe.
The Hawks will be fully healthy, except for Jock Landale, who will miss the game with a right high ankle sprain.
If Wednesday’s offensive disappointment was pinned on Ryan McMahon, who heard boos on a rough day during a rough start, Austin Wells might have been the face of Thursday’s frustration.
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What amounted to the Yankees’ best rally of the game — putting two runners on base in the seventh inning, Giancarlo Stanton drawing a walk and Ben Rice connecting for the club’s first hit of the afternoon — ended with Wells flying out on an afternoon the Yankees fell 1-0 to the A’s in The Bronx.
The entire bottom of the order is an early problem for the Yankees, but the struggles of Wells stand out in part because he is not experimenting with a radically different stance (like McMahon) or serving as a fill-in until a reinforcement arrives (like José Caballero) or owning a stellar track record that suggests he will come around (like Jazz Chisholm Jr.).
Wells arrived in the majors a couple of years ago with a reputation as a strong hitter who needed to work on his catching defense. He has emerged as an excellent framer and game-caller, but his bat has only flashed the kind of hitter he can become.
Austin Wells (28) hits a double during the seventh inning on April 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Those flashes have not appeared in the early going this season. Since tallying two hits on Opening Day, Wells has gone 3-for-27 with two singles, a double, four walks and 11 strikeouts.
In a reminder that the season is still in its infancy, Wells shrugged off the slump and was happy with the process that he feels will yield results.
“I feel pretty good [at the plate],” said Wells, who swung through a fastball for a strikeout in the third, grounded out in the fifth and made decent contact with his seventh-inning flyout. “Swinging at the right pitches. I’m just not getting much results. So, keep going.”
His manager, too, thought Wells’ swings were improving even if they were ending similarly.
Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) after hitting a double in the seventh inning against the Athletics on Tuesday. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
“A little better, actually. He’s been one of those guys struggling a little bit,” Aaron Boone said after the Yankees were shut out for the first time this season. “The last AB there, where we had a couple runners on, I thought he put together a pretty good at-bat and got some good swings off.”
The Yankees are only about 7 percent of the way into their season, and early April numbers often are forgotten. Plus, the Yankees are generally winning and Wells’ mind and defense are significant factors in the club’s rotation excellence thus far.
But the Yankees also consistently praise what J.C. Escarra can become and insist that Rice could be a major league catcher. So if Wells does not hit, there are other options.
“I feel like there’s been some games where he’s had some quality at-bats,” Boone said, “but obviously we got to get it more consistent, start getting some results. Obviously, he’s a guy that drives the ball as well.”
Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Rojas (2) slides away from home plate after being called out during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Iowa Cubs
Rained out. Doubleheader starting at 5:08 tomorrow.
The Trash Pandas jumped all over Smokies starter Luis Martinez-Gomez with two runs in the first, one in the second and two more in the third. The final line on Martinez-Gomez was five runs on five hits over four innings. He walked two, struck out one and gave up a two-run home run in the third inning.
Vince Reilly pitched the eighth and ninth innings and got the win. He did not allow a hit or a run, although he did walk one. He faced the minimum thanks to a fantastic diving catch and double play by third baseman Karson Simas. Reilly struck out two.
The Smokies trailed this game 7-0 after five and a half innings, but they scored three in the bottom of the sixth and five in the bottom of the eighth to stage an improbably comeback.
First baseman Devin Ortiz hit a three-run double in the sixth. He also chipped in an RBI single in the eighth. His final line was 2 for 4 with the double and four RBI. He scored once.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to give the Smokies the lead. It was Rojas’ third home run this year. He was 1 for 4 with a walk.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu went 2 for 4 with a triple.
Here’s the Rojas home run.
Jefferson Rojas goes the other way on a 3-run home run to give the Smokies an 8th-inning lead.
He is 9-for-27 with 3 HR, 2 2B, and 10 RBI through his first 6 games.
Great to see him having success in Double-A after his struggles at the level last year. pic.twitter.com/Pi6Iw5OG3n
Kevin Valdez made his season debut tonight by pitching 3.2 scoreless innings to start the game. Valdez allowed three hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Ethan Flanagan’s season debut could have gone better. After Grayson Moore gave up two runs in relief and South Bend tied it back up, Flanagan gave up three runs on five hits over 2.1 innings. Two of the five hits were home runs. Flanagan walked two and struck out three.
Catcher Owen Ayers hit his first South Bend home run with the bases empty in the fourth. He also singled and scored in the eighth. Ayers went 2 for 3 with a walk and the two runs scored.
Second baseman Drew Bowser tied it up 2-2 with a solo home run in the seventh. Bowser went 1 for 4.
Third baseman Reginald Preciado went 3 for 4. He singled home Ayers in the eighth.
Rowell Arroyo came on to pitch the sixth inning and allowed a runner to go to third with one out after fielding a dribbler in front of the mound and throwing the ball down the right line. The runner would score the only run of the game on a fielder’s choice. The final line on Arroyo was one unearned run on one hit over two innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Second baseman Jose Escobar singled to lead off the sixth inning. That was the only Pelicans hit of the game. Escobar was 1 for 3.
Josiah Hartshorn had the night off, so that didn’t help the offense.
